Gas temperature probe of the thermocouple type



Feb. 7, 1950 E. M. MoFFATT GAS TEMPERATURE PROBE oF THE THERMocoUPLE TYPE Filed NOV. 27, 1946 INVENTOR EZei Mau Z ATTORNEY marea Per.. v, 195o GAS TEMPERATURE PROBE OF THE THERMOCOUPLE TYPE Elbert Marston Moiiatt, Glastonbury, Conn., as-

signor to United Aircraft Corporation,

East

Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,527

(Cl. 13G-4) 7 Claims. l The invention relates to gas probes, particularly toa probe adapted for measuring the temperature of gas iiowing through a duct.

When a thermocouple is placed in a conduit in which gas is iiowing, the thermocouple junction loses heat by radiation to the walls of the duct so that the thermocouple does not indicate a true gas temperature. The thermocouple Junction has been shielded to reduce radiation, although the shield is not entirely eiective in all directions, since the shield must permit the iiow of gas therethrough. The shield does not reach the true gas temperature since it radiates heat to the Walls of the duct, and the thermocouple does not give a true indication of gas temperature since it still radiates heat to the shield. A feature of this lnvention is an larrangement for measuring the gas temperature more accurately than can be done with the usual shielded probe. Another feature is the arrangement of a probe which will give the temperature of a shielded thermocouple junction and also the temperature of the shield. From these temperatures it is then possible to obtain a true gas temperature.

A feature of the invention is a small gas probe of simple construction which will give accurate and dependable temperature indications and which will not seriously impede the flow of gas.

Another feature is a probe of such a size that itl may be made from relatively expensive and high heat ristant materials, such as platinum and/or platinum alloy and may thus be used for extremely high temperatures.

Shielded probes have depended upon reducing' radiation errors to a minimum by shielding which, as a result, has Ibeen of a multi-ply construction necessarily making a bulky probe.' A feature of this invention is to simplify the shieldings and to correct for radiation errors by measuring the shieldtemperature es rwell as the temperature of the thermocouple junction in the gas path.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the speciiication and claims, and from the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

The single figure is a sectional view through the probe in position in a duct.

The probe 8 is adapted for measuring the flow of gas, represented by the parallel arrows I0, in a duct I2, one wall only of which is shown. The probe '8 is adapted to be inserted through an opening I4 in the wall of the duct and may be held in place by a clamping nut I6 on the threaded boss I8 on the duct. The opening I4 may be relatively small in diameter by reason of the configuration of the probe as will hereinafter appear.

As shown, the probe 8 includes a shield or tube 20 of a suitable thermocouple alloy which -by reason of the small size of the device may be platinum or one of the platinum alloys, if desired. At

`t-he inner end of the tube, Awhich has a cap 22 of the same material, are provided axially spaced openings 2t and '26 to provide for a flow of air through the tube as represented by the arrows 23. These openings are on diametrically opposite sides yof the tube so that tle opening 24 may face into the gas stream and the opening 2B may face in the opposite direction for the discharge of the gas in the tube. The main thermocouple junction 30 is provided by a short wire 32, of the same ma- Y terial as the cap 22 -and the tube 2U, extending from the cap 22 -which forms a part of the tube 29 and a wire 36 of another thermocouple alloy connected to the -wire 32 and which, in conjunction with the other alloy, will provide an eilicient thermocouple junction. The inner end of the tube thus acts as a shield for the main junction 30. The wire 3ft extends through a ceramic core 36 which lls the tube 20 from the opening 26 to the outer end. Thus the thermocouple junction 30 is located in the path of the gas owing through the tube and is effectively shielded in all directions so that the junction cannot radiate heat to the walls of the duct. As a result, this junction measures a gas temperature close to the true temperature.

In addition to the main junction 30 the probe may also be provided with a second junction 38 which is loc-ated in the tube 20, as by inserting the end of a' wire t!) of a different thermocouple alloy than that of the tube 20 in an opening in the wall of the tube. The wire 40 is lead out through the ceramic core 36 in the same manner as the wire 34. It Iwill be apparent that both -Wres 34 and 40 may be of the same material provided that they are a different material than that of the tube 20 and its cap 22.

It will be apparent that a probe of this type may be made extremely small in diameter so that only a small amount of material is required for escasos 3 to the tube functions as one of the leads from both' true gas temperature. One means for obtaining this is by use of the formula:

T.- 'im-'ifm- To Where T= gas temperature Tp=temperature of main junction n Tr=temperature of shield hg=coeicient of heat transfer radiation ho=coelcient of heat transfer by convection The values oi' hr and ha or their ratio may be determined by a calibration of the probe in a calibnation chamber. l

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specic emboent herein illustrated and described, but may be used in other ways Without departure from its spirit as deilned by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas probe, a shield having openings which are dlametrically opposed and axially spaced along the shield for the ilow oi' a gas therethrough, the temperature of which gas is to be measured, a thermocouple having its junction located Within the shield and in the path of gas owing therethrough and a thermocouple wire of a different material from the shield connected thereto to form a thermocouple junction with the shield for measuring the shield temperature.

2. In a gas probe, a shield adapted to be positioned in a gas stream 4and made in part oi a. thermocouple alloy, a lead of another alloy connected to the shield to form a thermocouple junction thereon, said shield hav openings which are diametrically opposed and axially spaced along the shield for the now ofc. gas therethrough and a second thermocouple having its junction located within the shield in the path of the gas.

3. In a gas probe, a shield adapted to be positioned in a gas stream and made 'in part of 4a thermocouple alloy, a lead of another alloy connected to the shield to form a thermocouple junction thereon, said shield having openings which. are diametrically opposed and axially spaced along the shield for the ow of a gas therethrough, and a second thermocouple including n Ishort element of the same a'jlloy -as the shield connected thereto and extending into the path of the gas inthe shield, and a lead of another alloy connected to said short 'element to form a thermocouple junction in the `Lgas path.

4. In a gas probe. `a shield in the form of a tube adapted to be positioned in a gas stream at right angles to the ow of the gas, said shield having in the walls thereof a single inlet opening and a single outlet opening, said openings being substantially diametrlcally opposed andsxially spaced for the flow of gas through the shield, a cap on the end of the shield, and a thermocouple having its junction located substantially centrally lis of the shield and between the axially spaced openings.

5. In a gas probe, a shield in the form of a tube having substantially di-ametrically opposed axially spaced openings for the flow of gas through the shield, a cap on the end of the shield, and a thermocouple having itsmjunction located substantially centrally of the shield Iand between the axially spaced openings, said thermocouple including a projecting element made of a thermocouple alloy connected to the shield and a wire of another thermocouple 'alloy connected to the element to form the junction.

6. In a gas probe, a shield in the form of a tube adapted to be positioned in a gas stream, said shield having a closed inner end, said shield also having axially spaced openings for the flow of gas through the shield, a thermocouple having its junction located within the shield and between the axially spaced openings, said thermocouple including a projection on the shield of one thermocouple alloy and a wire of another thermocouple alloy connected thereto with the connection of the wire and the projection forming the thermocouple junction.

7. In a gas probe, a shield in the form of a. tube adapted to be positioned in a gas stream, said shield having a closed inner end, said shield also h-aving axially spaced openings for the flow of gas through the shield, a thermocouple having its junction located within the shield and between the axially spaced openings, said thermocouple including a projection on the shield of one thermocouple alloy and a wire of another thermocouple Ialloy connected thereto with the connection of the wire and the projection forming the thermocouple junction, and another thermocouple, of which the shield forms one element, including a Wire connected to the shield to form a thermocouple junction thereon.

ELBER'I MARSTON MOFFATT.

REFERENCES CITED l UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,766,148 Sawyer June 24, 1930 2,006,469 Lucke July 2, 1935 2,198,896 Wetzel Apr. 30, 1940 2,285,866 Markle June 9, 1942 2,305,585 Alfery Dec. 22, 1942 2,385,530 Paille Sept. 25, 1945 2,414,370 Floyd Jan. 14, 1947 2,438,575 Ray Mar. 30, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 'l 805,510 France Aug. 22, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES v i Probert et al., J. Sc. Insts., vol. 23, April 1946,

page 75.

Hottel et al., Trans. A. S. M. E., March 1945, page A29. 

